The president joined the strike of the workers in the automotive industry to show his support for their demands, especially about the 40% increase in their salaries. This is the first time in the nation’s modern history that a White House occupant has joined the picket lines of a labor protest.
“Companies have problems, now they are doing well. And, guess what? You should be doing well, too,” said Joe Biden, with a megaphone, to those on strike with workers in the ‘ United Auto. ‘ union. Workers’ (UAW), which represents American auto workers in more than 20 states.
The strike, which began in early September, aims to demand better pay, better working conditions and more days off from the country’s three leading automotive manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis (one conglomerate with Chrysler in its ranks). .
In an attempt to maintain the support of unions and ‘swing’ states for the next presidential election in 2024, Joe Biden spent about 15 minutes inside the picket line, where he expressed his support and solidarity with the hut workers in Michigan, in addition to emphasizing the importance of unions for the nation’s economy.
“Wall Street didn’t build this country, the middle class built this country, and the unions built the middle class,” the Democratic president said outside a distribution center. at General Motors, where one of the strike pickets was concentrated. , which has expanded to many states.
Joe Biden, close to the unions
Amid chants, UAW President Shawn Fain thanked Biden for showing his support to the workers directly at the center of the strike, calling the event “historic.”
“This is the first time that a sitting president of the United States has joined the pickets (…) Thank you, Mr. President,” said Fain, who also accused the leaders of major corporations of hoard the profits and leave the working class “fighting. for scraps.”
This is not the first time Joe Biden has spoken publicly in favor of union action. In 2020, while he was a presidential candidate, the Democrat participated in strikes by casino workers in Las Vegas and the auto industry itself in Kansas City.
Biden has set his sights on 2024, when he is expected to seek re-election in a presidential election where his closest competitor is former President Donald Trump, criticizing the policies of the current who was president about the working class on many occasions.
Trump: “Nothing more than a PR stunt”
The New York tycoon disqualified Biden’s appearance at the Michigan picket, saying his presence was nothing more than “a public relations stunt to distract the American people from his harmful policies.”
Trump accused the current president of affecting the American working class with his policies regarding electric cars. He assured that if its consumption is encouraged within the country, the employment of many workers in the industry will be reduced.
Donald Trump is also scheduled to appear on Tuesday, September 26, at a campaign rally with auto workers, although the UAW has distanced itself from organizing the event.
